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Poster:	Cliff Hucker	Date:	August 04, 2011 04:11:39am
Forum:	GratefulDead	Subject:	Re: What Do You Like About The 80's ?

"The magic of the early years has little to do with Keith..."

That's pretty far from being an accurate statement. You need to spend a little more time listening to some 1972 shows. Keith's playing is a big reason that the music from the European tour is so fine. Listen to just about any Dark Star or Other One from that tour and you'll see you are wrong...

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Poster:	wisconsindead	Date:	August 04, 2011 08:44:07am
Forum:	GratefulDead	Subject:	Re: What Do You Like About The 80's ?

I hear ya Cliff. It is, certainly a bit of an exaggeration. More so trying to emphasize brent's role in his years. Though, I think he was number 5 behind Jerry, Bobby, Phil and Bill. (idk if I'd say that for brent).

Anyway though, wanna link me to something particular? Im still mostly a fall 72 head, of which many recordings dont capture keith. 10-21-72 would be one.

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Poster:	Cliff Hucker	Date:	August 04, 2011 09:05:31am
Forum:	GratefulDead	Subject:	Re: What Do You Like About The 80's ?

Just about every performance of Dark Star and The Other One on the Europe '72 tour is marvelous, and not in small part from Keith's contribution.

I would recommend the Tivolis Dark Star on 4/17/72. Keith really shines:

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-04-17.sbd.ashley-field.34032.sbeok.flac16

Also the Dark Star in Hamburg on 4/29/72 features some great play by Keith:

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-04-29.sbd.sirmick.32877.sbeok.flac16

You certainly need to check out the Truckin'/Other One Jam in Newcastle on 4/11/72. Brilliant Jazz piano by Keith:

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-04-11.sbd.jackson.smith.94377.sbeok.flac16

And of course the post drums segement of the Other One from London on 5/26/72. One of Keith's shining moments with the band:

http://www.archive.org/details/gd1972-05-26.sbd.waddell.89641.sbeok.flac16

While I'd have to agree that Brent's introduction certainly revitalized the band. I'd be surprised if you would not concede Keith's superior musicianship after listening to his contributions during what might have been his peak with the Grateful Dead.

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Poster:	snow_and_rain	Date:	August 04, 2011 11:09:55am
Forum:	GratefulDead	Subject:	Re: What Do You Like About The 80's ?

Not only that, but I'd say that Keith was an important part of the band's boogie-woogie first set sound from that same period. No other GD keyboard player sounded better on the barroom songs. Brent, by contrast, produced a sound fundamentally at odds with the spirit of those songs.

I like Brent and appreciate the contributions he made, but no way he was better or more central to the sound that Keith was during the golden years. Find me one sloppy performance by Keith from 1971-1974. Just one.